HARDLID STEEL ROOF SHELTERS
A Permanent Steel Roof
Between Your Containers.
Where you want a long-life, low-maintenance building rather than a fabric cover. HardLid turns two containers into a permanent steel-roofed structure — no cover replacement, no tensioning, no fabric maintenance.
Assembled Flat. Lifted In One Piece.
A 14m HardLid at Ruakaka — the complete roof frame bolted together on the slab, then set down onto double-stacked containers in a single pick.
Steel Roof Or PVC Cover?
Both mount the same way — on containers, block walls or posts. The difference is what goes over the top, and neither is better. It depends how long the structure needs to stand and what you need from it.
| HardLid Steel Roof | PVC Cover | |
|---|---|---|
| Design life | Long-life permanent | 10-year warranty, cover replaceable |
| Maintenance | Minimal | Periodic tensioning and inspection |
| Natural light | Requires translucent sheets | Excellent — white cover |
| Wall integration | Takes cladding, doors and services | End walls and mechanical doors |
| Relocatable | Possible, more involved | Yes, straightforward |
| Span range | 6m to 20m, custom beyond | 6m to 24m, custom beyond |
| Best for | Workshops and enclosed buildings | Storage and weather protection |
Not sure which suits? Tell us how long the structure needs to stand and what goes underneath — we will give you a straight answer. See the PVC range →
Five Proven Widths. Then Whatever You Need.
Most HardLids go out in one of five standard spans, in 20ft or 40ft container lengths. Past that we design to suit — the largest currently on our board is well beyond 20m.
3.6m internal height
Compact storage, workshops, tools and equipment, covered access.
4.1m internal height
General storage, light machinery and vehicle storage.
4.4m internal height
Vehicles, plant, equipment sheds and contractor yards.
4.7m internal height
Larger machinery, multi-bay storage and commercial use.
5.2m internal height
Industrial buildings, agricultural storage, larger commercial projects.
Custom span
Beyond the standard range we engineer to suit the site. Tell us the width you need.
Depth is modular
Build in 20ft (6.1m) or 40ft (12.2m) container modules, or combine them to go longer. Add bays until the building is the size you need.
Double stacking adds height
On double-stacked 40ft containers a 14m HardLid reaches a 7.8m ridge — enough clearance for truck and trailer access underneath.
Internal heights shown are for the standard container-mounted configuration. Mounting on block walls or posts changes the figure, and final dimensions are confirmed at design stage.
Two Ways To Put It Up.
Both start the same way and finish the same way. The difference is whether the roof goes on in one piece or one portal at a time — and that usually comes down to what can get onto your site.
Built On The Ground, Lifted In One
The complete roof frame is bolted together flat on your slab or hardstand, then picked up and set down onto the containers in a single lift. This is the method shown in the video above.
- Nearly all assembly happens at ground level
- One lift, one set-down
- Least time spent working at height
- Quickest of the two on site
Needs: Hiab or crane access, and clear room alongside to assemble.
Assembled In Situ
Each portal is assembled on the ground and lifted into position one at a time. Once they are all standing, purlins and bracing tie the structure together.
- Portals go up individually
- Purlins and bracing fixed afterwards
- No crane required in most cases
- Suits tight sites and restricted access
Watch for: Individual members can be very heavy. The lift and the crew need planning.
The same either way
Site preparation
Topsoil stripped and compacted hardfill laid to the bearing capacity the engineering calls for. An existing concrete pad or established hardstand may already do the job. No piling or reinforcing cages either way.
Containers first
They carry the structure, act as your side walls and give you secure storage in one move, and they are usable from the day they land.
Roof and fitout last
Colour steel roofing goes on once the frame is up, then whatever walls, doors and fitout the job calls for.
Which one you get depends on your site. Where a Hiab can get alongside, building on the ground and lifting in one is faster and safer. Where access is tight, in-situ assembly gets the same building up without a crane.
More Than Covered Space.
A HardLid can stay open-sided, or be closed in with cladding, doors, services and internal fitout. What it becomes depends on the job.
Workshops
Clear-span working space for fabrication, servicing, maintenance and production.
Farm Buildings
Machinery storage, feed areas and practical all-weather working space.
Calf Rearing & Stables
Covered, ventilated space for animal housing, feed areas and daily farm use.
Vehicle Bays
Service areas, wash bays and workshops for trucks and heavy machinery.
Industrial Storage
Secure, durable space for materials, stock and operational equipment.
Gyms & Lifestyle
Training space, sauna, recovery and outdoor living in a commercial-grade shell.
Building something we have not listed? That is most of them. Tell us what needs to happen under the roof.
14m clear span, built from ground level.
A commercial HardLid for a heavy equipment hire company in Ruakaka, Northland. The roof frame was assembled flat on the slab, then lifted onto double-stacked 40ft containers in a single crane lift.
At that height the ridge sits 7.8m off the ground, which gives clearance for a truck and trailer to drive straight through.
HARDLID STEEL ROOF
Want something permanent?
Tell us your container spacing and what needs to fit underneath. We will confirm the span and give you a price.